Blocks 'as good as a goal' for Mepham

Chris Mepham is on loan at Sunderland from Bournemouth

Sunderland defender Chris Mepham has said making defensive blocks are as important to him as scoring goals following his side's 0-0 draw at Norwich City.

Mepham made a crucial block to keep out a goalbound shot from Canaries midfielder Marcelino Nunez late in the game to ensure the Black Cats came away from Carrow Road with another clean sheet - their third shutout in successive Championship matches and 14th in total this season.

"It's something I take pride in and to be fair that's as good as a goal for me – getting in a block like that," Mepham told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"We put a lot of focus on trying to get back to that defensive resilience and being tight, robust and hard for teams to create chances against.

"On the flip side, we want to cause teams more problems than we are creating at the minute."

Mepham, 27, joined Sunderland on a season-long loan from Bournemouth in the final stages of the summer transfer window and has proved to be an invaluable edition for head coach Regis Le Bris, starting 32 league games this season so far.

And the Wales international claims he is not worried who his side will come up against in the play-off semi-finals, after Tuesday's draw guaranteed the Black Cats a spot in the post-season promotion shake-up.

"I don't think there is a team to fear, I don't think there is a team that we'd rather play," he added.

"Whoever we do end up playing, I'm sure we'll be more than equipped for.

"We just need to make sure that we just carry on the momentum because that's the most important thing heading into the play-offs."